OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Russell Westbrook had 21 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds to help the Thunder beat the Houston Rockets 111-107 on Tuesday night.
Westbrook has 15 triple-doubles this season and 34 in his career. It's the most triple-doubles by a player in a season since 1988-89, when Magic Johnson had 17 and Michael Jordan had 15.
It was also Westbrook's sixth triple-double in March. According to STATS, it's the most by a player in a calendar month since Jordan had seven in April 1989. It was his third in a row and fourth in his past five games.
Kevin Durant scored 23 points and Dion Waiters added 17 to help the Thunder win their fifth straight.
James Harden had 24 points, a career-high 16 assists and seven rebounds for the Rockets. Dwight Howard had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Patrick Beverley added 16 points.
Houston led 99-97 when Westbrook took over. He found Steven Adams for a dunk on an inbounds pass, got a steal and a dunk, then made a long 2-point jumper to give the Thunder a 103-99 lead.
Harden's 3-pointer with 13.8 seconds to play cut Oklahoma City's lead to 108-107. Serge Ibaka made 1 of 2 free throws with 11.9 seconds left to give the Thunder a two-point lead. Harden turned the ball over while trying to get it into Howard, and Waiters stole it. Westbrook made two free throws at the other end with 3.5 seconds remaining to put the game out of reach. Westbrook scored 14 points in the fourth quarter.
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TIP-INS
Rockets: Howard played for the first time since the league investigated a spray he said he had routinely put on his hands for grip for the past five years. A Rockets spokeswoman said there has been no discipline from the league, and Howard chose to use nothing on his hands. ... Harden's 10 assists in the first half matched the most he's had in a half in his career. ... A basket by Michael Beasley late in the third quarter was waved off after review because he took the shot after the shot clock had expired.
Thunder: F Kyle Singler sat out with soreness and tightness in his lower back. ... The Thunder shot 52.2 percent in the first quarter. ... Oklahoma City attempted just three free throws in the first half. ... The Thunder improved to 6-0 on Tuesdays this season. ... Durant passed Michael Finley and moved into 81st place on the league's all-time scoring list. He now has 17,326 points.
UP NEXT
Rockets: Host Jazz on Wednesday.
Thunder: Host Jazz on Thursday.
